Pi'erre Bourne: The Life of Pi'erre 5 Review
The Life of Pierre 5 is a colorful experience that personifies the aesthetic of the cult icon.
Rating: 7.5/10
Notable Tracks: HULU, Couch, Sossboy 2, Butterfly, 4U
The super-producer Pi’erre Bourne recently released his second major-label album The Life of Pi’erre 5. Coming off a solid 2019 that consisted of Sli’merre with long-time collaborator Young Nudy and TLOP 4, Bourne’s 2020 was just as spectacular. “Place,” “Bean (Kobe),” “Pain 1993,” and “One Watch” were amongst the top songs of the year. For years Pi’erre has been attempting to master the craft of both producing and rapping. While he is more known for the former, the “Magnolia” producer wants his raps to be as equally respected.
Coming into the album, I had no expectations. I had a feeling that Pi’erre would take us on a ride and he did exactly that. His wavy, video game-like sound is a major strength and carries the weight of the project. Tracks such as “Couch,” “42,” and “Retroville” are bouncy yet smooth. Pi’erre’s blend of drums, synths, and sound effects is what creates his signature psychedelic style. The dramatic pause in “Drunk & Nasty” brings a pop just like it did on Playboi Carti’s “Place.” A major highlight of the project are the transitions. You can easily get lost and let the album play through before noticing that a few tracks have passed. This gives the feeling of listening to a mix rather than an album which isn’t a knock at all.
In TLOP5, Bourne’s confidence as a rapper increases in comparison to the previous installment. He often reflects on life and his success so far in addition to flex raps about money and fashion. “Pray to God he takes his time” is an example of faith-based lyrics that occur throughout the project. The chorus of “Biology 101” gives a nod to Cassidy’s hit song “Hotel”. After not having any features on the previous album, the fifth installment only has three notable collaborators Playboi Carti and Lil Uzi Vert with SossHouse label signee, Sharc. I honestly hoped for a Young Nudy appearance, but that’s what deluxe albums are for.
Overall, TLOP5 displays improvement in Bourne’s journey of mastering the styles of producing and rapping. Pi’erre’s cloudy robotic voice and production protect his weaknesses as a rapper. His focus is to continue to build his solo career while staying on top of his game as a producer. Bourne’s consistency will allow him to break through in both areas in hopes to similarly follow the path of one of his influences—Kanye West.